Are you thinking about hiring a pool builder? Now for the first time you have to consider your pool landscaping budget. Our pool landscaping costs $8,000 or $50,000?
Shasta's landscape team sees homeowners who spent months planning their pool and never thought once about what goes around it. The pool gets built and the backyard looks half-finished. Suddenly, there's a second project nobody planned for.
This article shares what each part of a pool surround costs in Arizona. So, you can build a real landscaping budget before you get your first quote.
Table of Contents
- How Much Does Pool Decking Cost in Arizona?
- How Much Does Artificial Turf Cost Around a Pool in Arizona?
- How Much Does a Pergola or Shade Structure Cost Near a Pool in Arizona?
- What Should You Actually Budget for a Complete Pool Surround in Arizona?
How Much Does Arizona Pool Landscaping Cost?
Most Arizona pool landscaping costs between $15,000 and $60,000. The large range depends on materials and total square feet of landscaped area.
A basic surround includes cool deck, desert rock, and drip-irrigated plants. Travertine decking, artificial turf, a pergola, and integrated lighting push can dramatically increase the total cost. A good pool landscaper can work with you to create the look that fits within your budget.
Pool Landscape Costs
"They are almost always surprised because the cost is a little bit more than they were expecting because they weren't thinking about their landscaping. So many people come in here, again just thinking we're only going to offer them a pool." — Bruce Shipp, Landscape Design Consultant Shasta Pools
Average Phoenix Landscaping costs for common features.
-
Pool decking (travertine, installed) $20–$42+ per sq ft
-
Artificial turf (Phoenix, installed) $8–$16 per sq ft
-
Pergola / shade structure $3,600–$7,000
-
Landscape lighting $1,000–$8,000
-
Desert plants + drip irrigation $2,500–$6,000+
How Much Does Pool Decking Cost in Arizona?
Pool decking often costs the most in a pool landscaping budget. It covers the most square footage and the material you choose affects your pool surrounds the most. Pool decking materials feel different on hot July days and drain differently during monsoon storms.
In Arizona, most pool decks cost between $15 and $42+ per square foot installed.
|
Material |
Installed Cost (Per Sq Ft) |
Heat in Arizona Sun |
Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cool deck / acrylic coating |
$3–$8 |
Moderate |
Low |
|
Concrete pavers |
$8–$15 |
High |
Low |
|
Travertine |
$20–$42+ |
Low–Moderate |
Low with sealing |
|
Limestone |
$16–$32 |
Lowest |
Moderate |
|
Marble |
$24–$37+ |
High |
Lowest with sealing |
How Much Does Travertine Cost Installed Around a Pool?
Travertine installed around an Arizona pool typically costs $20–$42 per square foot. The material alone costs $5–$15 per square foot plus the cost of installation.
It's the most popular pool deck material in Arizona.
Travertine Dissipates Heat
"Travertine, it absorbs heat, but it dissipates it quicker than something like a concrete paver or a porcelain paver. So there's a substantial benefit using natural stone when it comes to walking on it on a normal sunny day in Arizona, it's going to be far less hot than concrete or acrylic deck or porcelain." — Derin Uras, ANS Mermer USA
How Much Does Artificial Turf Cost Around a Pool in Arizona?
Arizona pool artificial turf typically costs $8–$16 per square foot. The average price for the Phoenix valley is $11 per square foot. A 500-square-foot turf area costs $4,000–$8,000 installed.
Near a pool, cheap turf runs hotter underfoot. The fibers break down faster from UV and pool chemical exposure, and you're replacing it sooner. Especially in Phoenix, the better-grade turf's premium price pays for its value in cooler feet and longer term use. Also, turf is also increasingly replacing decking entirely in smaller Arizona backyards.
Cost-Effective Pool Surround
"That approach — coping only, a narrow concrete border, turf from there out — is one of the more cost-effective ways to finish a pool surround without sacrificing livability. It also gives you more yard for kids, dogs, and furniture than a full hardscape surround does. One more number worth knowing before you budget: Phoenix currently offers a $2 per square foot rebate for verified grass removal when you install artificial turf. On a 500-square-foot project that's $1,000 back. Confirm current rebate availability with the City of Phoenix water services — programs like this can change." — Doug, Pool Designer, Shasta Pools
How Much Does a Pergola or Shade Structure Cost Near a Pool in Arizona?
A professionally installed pergola near an Arizona pool costs $3,600–$7,000 on average. Most Phoenix-area landscaping pool projects costs on average $4,200–$4,500. A larger custom structures that includes stone columns and a built-in ceiling fans can cost more than $10,000.
Most people are wanting just a beautiful covering where they can put their barbecue, their fireplace or seating area. And they didn't realize that they didn't have to go with the most expensive options.
|
Structure Type |
Typical Installed Cost |
|---|---|
|
Basic aluminum / powder-coated shade sail |
$800–$2,500 |
|
Luma wood pergola |
$3,500–$6,000 |
|
Standard wood or metal pergola |
$4,200–$7,000 |
|
Custom pergola with electrical / fans / lighting |
$7,000–$12,000+ |
|
Solid patio cover / ramada |
$8,000–$15,000+ |
What Should You Actually Budget for a Complete Pool Surround in Arizona?
Plan for $15,000–$60,000 for a complete pool surround landscaping cost.
A basic surround including cool deck, desert rock, and drip-irrigated plants provides the lowest total cost. Travertine decking, quality artificial turf, a pergola, and pool-synced lighting increase your cost to $40,000–$60,000.
Shasta has an in-house use landscape division that homeowners can turn around and talk to. Sometimes we work together to make adjustments until we can get the price where they want it. Price point and get them as much of what they're asking for.
Most homeowners don't get pool landscaping costs until after they've signed a pool contract. By then, the budget they planned to use for landscaping is already committed to a spa or a water feature. They may be at a spa that they weren't thinking because they think they can now afford that. The more they add to their pool, the more they can sometimes forget about their landscaping.
If you can't do the pool and landscaping all at once, that's fine. However, plan it all now. Grading and drainage need to account for what eventually goes around the pool. Trying to fit a turf install or a pergola foundation into a yard that wasn't designed for it costs more.
Shasta's landscape team works alongside pool design from the first conversation. After 60 years of building Arizona backyards, we've learned what saves homeowners the most money and the most frustration.
References
HomeGuide — Travertine Pavers Cost https://homeguide.com/costs/travertine-pavers-cost
City of Phoenix — Water Conservation Rebates https://www.phoenix.gov/waterservices/conservation/rebates
